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How can debt affect your mental health?

If you have debt collectors harassing you at all hours, you may feel trapped. Most people carry the burden of debt, but it does not help the impact it can have on their lives. According to the Meredith Health Group, debt impacts your physical and mental health.

No matter how healthy you are, if you have a high amount of debt, it can change how you feel physically and feel about yourself?

The anxiety behind debt

When you have a high debt to asset ratio, your blood pressure may raise due to anxiety. As you worry about how to pay it back while avoiding calls from debt collectors, your health begins to deteriorate. Higher stress levels lead to higher blood pressure and vice versa. Debt can trigger catastrophic predictions about your life. You may worry about homelessness or losing food stability.

The depression behind debt

Older adults have a higher tendency to feel depressed when in debt. Adults over 51 tend to have more depressive symptoms when they owe large amounts of money. You may feel out of control like you cannot control your circumstances.

The debt can force couples apart too. If you and your partner fight over finances, the odds of divorce become higher. You may catch yourself fighting over how much to save and spend. You may disagree on how to react to debt collectors or how to find help.

When you experience debt that you cannot pay off, you may feel isolated from your friends and family. Many people feel shame when they cannot afford to pay their debt, resulting in further mental health problems.